CXC scraps decision on syllabus suspension

Jun 05, 2024 News

---

– to roll out 12 ‘new generation’ subjects at the CAPE level

Kaieteur News – The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on Tuesday withdrew its decision on suspending four subject areas that are being offered at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) levels.

Announcing the Council’s decision during a press conference yesterday was CXC’s Registrar & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Wayne Wesley, who noted that the decision was made following a meeting with Minters of Education from across the region who raised concerns about the suspension.

“We just completed a meeting with Ministers of Education from across the region to discuss the regional concerns arising from the contemplation of syllabus suspension for the following subjects: CAPE – Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, CAPE- Green Engineering, CSEC – Agricultural Science, the double award, and CSEC Industrial Technology, the mechanical option,” he stated.

The CEO told media operatives that the meeting demonstrated their shared commitment to find a critical path forward on this matter, given the pressing education and human capacity development imperatives facing the region.

“The Ministers of Education were forthright in their positions, as well as pledging their support for CXC and for more direct lines of communications with the Council. I therefore want to announce our agreed positions emerging from the meeting as follows: One, the Caribbean Examinations Council will continue to offer to the region, Agricultural Science double major, Green Engineering, Industrial Technology the mechanical option, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology,” he announced.

Kaieteur News had previously reported that CXC had announced that come September 2025, it will be suspending the four subjects at both the CAPE and CXC levels due to a notable decline in student engagement. It was noted by the CEO that following the meeting it was agreed that the Ministers of Education will work with the Council on having a marketing drive so as to ensure greater uptake in the subjects.”

Accordingly, today’s deliberations with the Ministers of Education reinforce the need for a collective regional marketing thrust to promote the priority subject areas in STEM or STEAM education and climate smart agriculture which are considered critical for the economic growth and sustainable development of the region,” he related.

It was noted during the press conference that the reasons CXC considered suspending the courses followed a study done across different schools in the region. It was revealed by CXC’s Deputy CEO & Pro-Registrar, Dr. Eduardo Ali that besides low enrollment, some other reasons they considered for the suspension were, “the issue of plant and equipment that are outdated, the lack of practical experience for students because of the inadequacy of the labs and facilities that are there, lack of qualified teaching professionals to teach the broad syllabus, the issue of physical resources such as textbooks and other learning resources were challenges that the systems did not provide for students, as well as areas related to the matriculations requirements.”

Meanwhile, in a press release, the Education Ministry stated that Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand during that meeting highlighted the critical importance of these subjects to the rapid growth in sectors such as oil and agriculture in Guyana. “She pointed out that heads of government of countries in the region are constantly speaking locally and internationally of sustainable growth and being food secure and self-sustaining. She referenced the investments of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in the region in countries like Guyana where 6 new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are being established and says the decision was tone deaf to all of these realities,” the statement revealed.

According to the ministry, Minister Manickchand made it clear that were CXC to discontinue these subjects, Guyana would be forced to find other bodies who could test and certify the subjects. It was revealed that other ministers of education also expressed strong reservations against CXC’s decision.

Dr. Wesley further announced in the press conference that CXC has rolled out a menu of new generation technology and science programmes. He noted that some courses are not yet at the desired demand but the governments will work with CXC in a partnership in building demand for these new programmes. It was disclosed by CXC that there would be 12 new generation subjects at the CAPE level and these include: Agriculture Science, Entrepreneurship, Performing Arts, Physical Education and Sport, Tourism, Animation and Game Design, Logistics and Supply Chain Operations, Digital Media, Financial Services, Design and Technology, and Biotechnology.

---

• CXC, Dr. Wayne Wesley, four subjects, syllabus suspension, withdraw

---